SEVERAL ATHLETIC DIRECTORS around the state are just starting to get comfortable in their offices after playing a round of musical chairs this summer. Several athletic
directors new to jobBy Jason Kaneshiro
jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comEleven ADs start their first full school years at their posts this month. The Kauai Interscholastic Federation is the only league that didn't have any changes to its league directory this year.
In the Oahu Interscholastic Association, Hartwell Lee Loy left Kahuku to replace Keith Morioka at Waipahu. Linda Semones is now the interim AD at Kahuku. Richard Haru takes over at Castle after a lengthy term as an assistant AD at Roosevelt.
Glenn Nitta, the longtime varsity baseball coach at Mililani, is now the school's interim AD. If Nitta gains final approval, Cary Kihara would take over the baseball program.
Moanalua's Dana Dias and Farrington's Harold Tanaka started in their positions last spring.
Carey Won is the only new athletic director in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu. He replaces Tony Tyler at St. Francis.
Morioka moves to Maui to lead the Hana High School program. Joe Balangitao Jr. is the new AD at Lahainaluna, while Alvin Kametani takes over at St. Anthony's. David Marocco is the new athletic department at Kaahumanu Hou.
On the Big Island, Aaron Farley is the new AD at Ho'ala and James Manalili replaces Lyle Crozier at Konawaena. The positions at Kealakehe and Kohala are vacant.
Dana Hills football player OK after numbness
Dana Hills (Calif.) running back Joel Martin will leave the Islands with his teammates this week after a scare during Saturday's football game against Pac-Five.Martin was taken off the Aloha Stadium field in an ambulance after experiencing numbness on his left side after a hit. But Pac-Five coach Don Botelho said the injury was a pinched nerve and Martin was released from Kaiser Medical Clinic in time to attend a picnic for the teams Sunday.
KGU begins prep sports broadcasts on Sept. 7
KGU Radio (AM 760) kicks off its high school sports broadcast season Sept. 7 with an ILH football game between St. Louis and Punahou from Aloha Stadium.KGU will air seven ILH regular-season games and five matchups in the Chevron State Football tournament this fall. The station will also broadcast contests in six other state tournaments -- boys and girls volleyball, softball, boys and girls basketball and baseball.
The broadcasts are sponsored by VoiceStream Wireless, Starcomm Sports Radio and Henry Loui's Restaurant.
KGU will also start a weekly one-hour call-in show devoted to high school sports during football season called "Countdown to Kickoff." The show will air every Thursday at 7 p.m.
Raiders ready to roll into ILH volleyball season
The Iolani boys volleyball team hopes to maintain the momentum it picked up on Kauai when it opens the ILH season Saturday against Maryknoll.Iolani's varsity team dropped just one match en route to winning the 13th annual Waimea Boys Preseason Volleyball Tournament. The Raiders defeated host Waimea 11-5, 11-6 in the final of the 14-team event on Aug. 18 at Clem Gomes Gymnasium.
"It was a good learning experience for our teams and a good way for them to bond," said new Iolani varsity coach Luis Ramirez. "We learned a more about ourselves."
KIF teams made a strong showing in the tournament. Besides Waimea's runner-up finish, Kapaa finished pool play undefeated and was the top seed in the championship bracket.
The Warriors lost three starters before championship bracket play due to other commitments and were eliminated in two matches. Kauai finished fourth overall.
"This is going to help us down the road," said Waimea coach Bobby Kamakele. "We're small and we learned what it's going to take to beat taller teams. The boys won't be so intimidated."
Lutheran's Teoni Obrey makes his ILH debut as the Lions' head coach Saturday against University. Obrey's brother, Kainoa, cheered the Lions on during the Waimea tournament.
Kainoa Obrey's Newport, R.I., summer league baseball team won the Cape Cod League championship. He returns to Utah next month for this third season at Brigham Young.
In the OIA, Radford and McKinley also have new coaches this season. Victor Santiago is the new leader of the Radford program and Chad Giesseman, who coached at Hawaii Baptist and Maryknoll in recent years, is taking over the boys program at McKinley this season.
Kalaheo, Punahou to play in Radford hoops tourney
State tournament runner-up Kalaheo and ILH champion Punahou headline the field for the 2002 Radford High School Girls Basketball Classic.Also scheduled to participate in the tournament are Leilehua, Maryknoll, Maui, Roosevelt, Sacred Hearts and host Radford.
The tournament will be played March 7-9 at the Rams' gym.
ILH adjusts schedule to accommodate Hawaii
Two ILH games scheduled for Sept. 8 pitting Damien against Iolani and Punahou against St. Louis have been moved to Sept. 7. The first game begins at 4:45 p.m. at Aloha Stadium. The second meeting between Punahou and St. Louis is set for 7:30 p.m.The Oct. 27 games with Kamehameha facing Iolani and Damien taking on St. Louis have been moved to Oct. 28 to accommodate Hawaii's nationally televised game with Fresno State. The game times will be announced at a later date.
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